Page 10 of Indigo

And she damn well made sure I knew it wasn’t the first time.

He nods, tilting his chin a little higher and taking a sip of his top shelf whiskey before replying to me. "Made an error in judgement. Forgot you were coming over.”

“Oh my god,” I groan, rolling my eyes and forcing down more of the wine.

“See, if we got back together, you wouldn’t have to be looking for work right now. How is that going, by the way?” He leans forward, lowering his voice. “I figured the search may be a little hard for you, given you’re unable to secure a decent reference from your previous employer, that is.” He takes another sip of his drink, letting his words sit with me for a moment. “So maybe you need to rethink this whole separation, hmm? Forgive my little indiscretion and just move on? Make this all a little easier on both of us?”

The audacity of this man.

Fuck him, his rich daddy, and the glowing fucking reference I deserve. I don’t need them.

“You’re delusional,” I say, trying to sound calm, but my voice comes out shaky from the adrenaline suddenly pumping through my body.

He sighs and shrugs a shoulder, leaning back again, giving me some much-needed space. “All I'm saying is that you're throwing away an awful lot. We were good together. Your life would have been easy with me. It's your choice, of course.” He winks and finishes his whiskey. “Just something to think about before digging your heels in.”

I swallow the rest of my drink in one big gulp and place the glass down. Leaning forward, and keeping my voice low to ensure no one at a nearby table can hear me, I say, “You are a pig. If you think you can bully me into being in a relationship with you, you’re wrong. We. Are. Over.” I make sure to annunciate those last three words, hoping they’ll sink in. Then, because I feel like matching his attitude, I lean in further, place my hand flat on the table in front of him and add, “A man with a dick your size really shouldn’t be as arrogant as you are, Michael. Perhaps you should rethink your personality to better fit what you have to offer, hmmm?”

His eyes bulge, and his face reddens with both anger and embarrassment as the couple directly to our left both choke on their drinks and splutter into their napkins.

“You little cu–”

I raise my hand to silence him before he embarrasses himself further. Oddly enough, it works.

First time for everything, I guess.

Standing abruptly, I throw down my white linen napkin and grab my purse from the table. I walk out of The Black Swan with my head held high, feeling satisfied with my exit and hoping like hell that he’ll leave me be now.

As I walk across the pavement, I fish both my phone and keys out of my purse and pull up Mum’s number.

“Baby girl, you alright?” she asks, answering after two rings, clearly concerned. She made her opinion on this dinner very clear before she left and then on the phone every day since. I know she’s worried about me, but I got myself into this mess. I needed to get myself out.

“I’m great. Tonight was exactly what I needed. I stood up for myself and didn’t let him intimidate me,” I reply, smiling as I approach my car, plucking bobby pins out of my hair and letting it fall freely down my back.

“I’m so proud of you, baby girl,” she says, her voice sounding a little shaky, but relieved.

“I’m just about to get in the–”

“Indie! Get your ass back here,” Michael yells from behind me, making me jump and almost drop the phone.

I turn around quickly, holding it to my chest, and spot him on the other side of the parking lot. He stumbles toward me, pointing his finger in the air. Obviously, he had more to drink tonight than I thought.

“Indie?” I hear Mum calling through the phone as I clutch it tightly to my chest.

I clear my throat, trying to disguise my nerves and raise it back to my ear. “Sorry, Mum. Got distracted and almost dropped my phone. I’ll be home soon, alright? I’ll call you when I get there and fill you in.”

“You’re sure? I, ugh, I need to tell you something, sweetheart.”

“Can it wait?” I reply, my eyes trained on Michael’s every move as he approaches.

“Yes. Yes. It can wait. Drive safely, okay? Love you,” she replies before ending the call and unknowingly leaving me alone in a dark parking lot with the drunk, egotistical rich boy who isn’t taking my exit very well.

I put my phone in my purse, square my shoulders and hold my car keys a little tighter in my hand, ensuring one is sticking out from between my closed fist.

I’m probably overreacting, but being alone with him after the conversation we just had doesn’t feel like the most ideal situation to be in.

Deep breaths.

The closer he gets, the more noticeable the size difference between us is, and it’s unnerving. I should have worn bigger heels.

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